THE SNAPSHOT
Led by two Dal psychologists, the offers free care to low-income Nova Scotians while training clinical psychology PhD students to help meet growing demand in the province. With operational funding from Nova Scotia鈥檚 Office of Addictions and Mental Health, the centre鈥檚 innovative service delivery model offers vital care to those in need while filling critical gaps in the system.
THE CHALLENGE
After exhausting his savings to launch a startup, the resulting stress was taking a mental and physical toll on 鈥楩rank,鈥� a Halifax resident sharing his story anonymously. 鈥淚 felt trapped in a cycle of worry,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 lost weight and struggled with chronic insomnia. The financial strain made it hard to see solutions, and I didn鈥檛 have the tools to manage my stress.鈥�
Although Frank has a family doctor, the physician couldn鈥檛 offer the support he needed. Without additional health insurance or the means to pay out of pocket to visit a private psychology clinic, he was initially unsure where to turn. It鈥檚 a struggle faced by thousands of Nova Scotians searching for affordable ways to access the psychological help they need.
On the other side of the patient-client equation there is another challenge. Students must complete more than 1,000 clinical training hours over the course of their studies but often have difficulty finding places to practice. 鈥淭here isn鈥檛 always a good fit for students that are early in their training,鈥� says Dr. Shannon Johnson, director of clinical training for Dal鈥檚 clinical psychology PhD program. 鈥淲e really wanted the ability to offer more of that training internally.鈥�
THE SOLUTION
Drs. Alissa Pencer, left, and Shannon Johnson are taking pressure off Nova Scotia鈥檚 mental health system with their innovative clinic.
Dr. Johnson and Dr. Alissa Pencer, the program鈥檚 field placement coordinator, had previous experience with the Dalhousie School of听 Social Work Community Clinic, which offers interdisciplinary health students the chance to care for clients from low-income and marginalized communities. 鈥淭hat really stood out to us as a unique experience that our students don鈥檛 tend to get in other settings,鈥� says Dr. Pencer.
Inspired by the social-work model, the psychologists saw an opportunity to align the needs of communities underserved by psychological services and the students who could provide them. They began planning a community-based psychology clinic focused on clients facing barriers to care.
That vision was supported by Nova Scotia鈥檚 Office of Addictions and Mental Health, which provided three years of operational funding. In September 2023, the Dalhousie Centre for Psychological Health officially opened its doors in Halifax鈥檚 Fenwick Medical Centre.
The Honourable Brian Comer. Minister for Addictions and Mental Health speaks at the centre鈥檚 opening.
THE WORK
Since opening, 47 PhD students and residents have provided care as part of their training, under the supervision of the centre鈥檚 eight psychologists, including Drs. Johnson and Pencer, the centre鈥檚 co-directors. Also on staff are a dedicated health outcomes scientist and research lead, two social work team members, a clinic manager, and several student staff members in intake and front desk positions.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just that we鈥檙e adding to what the public system is already doing,鈥� says Dr. Pencer of the centre鈥檚 holistic approach. 鈥淲e鈥檙e providing some services that you can鈥檛 get anywhere else in a public clinic.鈥�
One of those unique offerings is the presence of a case manager and service navigator who work with clients on meeting needs that can鈥檛 be addressed in therapy, such as accessing housing, food, education, or career-related resources.
鈥淎s you can imagine, not knowing where your next meal is going to come from is very distracting and can significantly impact your ability to engage in therapy and implement the skills you鈥檙e learning in between sessions,鈥� says Janelle Duguay, the clinic鈥檚 case manager and a social worker who helped Frank apply for Employment Insurance benefits.
Delivering culturally-informed care is also a priority. The clinic has been working with Indigenous social worker Anangkwe Charity Fleming to adapt cognitive behavioural therapy for clients referred by the Mi鈥檏maw Native Friendship Centre.
Clinically relevant research is another focus. Students and staff engage in research that addresses questions that arise from the centre鈥檚 work with low-income and diverse clients. 鈥淢uch of the existing research is not inclusive of the populations served at the centre, so there are clear opportunities to conduct research in real time to have an immediate impact on clinical services in the Centre for Psychological Health,鈥� says Dr. Debbie Emberly, the clinic鈥檚 health outcomes scientist and research lead.
THE IMPACT
Frank says that taking part in eight therapy sessions helped him regain control of his life.
鈥淚 now approach problems with clarity, and I鈥檓 no longer overwhelmed by worry like before,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he Centre for Psychological Health gave me back a sense of agency over my mind and my circumstances. I鈥檓 grateful for their holistic approach 鈥� therapy addressed my mental health, while case management tackled practical needs like securing EI. It鈥檚 a model that truly considers the whole person.鈥�
Offering assessment and intervention services, the centre has so far delivered over 1,600 individual appointments to nearly 500 clients aged five to over 65 referred by 30 different community partner organizations.
I now approach problems with clarity, and I鈥檓 no longer overwhelmed by worry like before
The has referred more than 20 clients to the centre. 鈥淭he relationship we have built with their team has been based on them being culturally informed and non-harmful in their practices,鈥� says Friendship Centre mental health counsellor Kendall Paul, noting that many of the people referred are Two-Spirit and non-binary. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e always been open to meeting clients where they鈥檙e at.鈥�
Fifth-year clinical psychology PhD student Catrina MacPhee has been involved with the centre since it opened, supervising first- and second-year students and serving as an intake clinician. 鈥淭he centre provides a unique learning opportunity to support individuals from varied backgrounds with a range of mental health challenges,鈥� says MacPhee.
Originally from Cape Breton, MacPhee is interested in treating anxiety and mood disorders and plans to practice in Nova Scotia after her residency.
Brianna Boyle was the clinic鈥檚 first psychology resident.
Fellow Nova Scotian Brianna Boyle was the clinic鈥檚 first psychology resident and plans to practice in her home province after finishing her PhD studies at the University of New Brunswick. Additional residents will be coming to Dal this fall as part of four new clinical psychology residency seats announced by the province last year.
鈥淏eing able to work with children, youth, adults, and older adults across the lifespan has been fantastic, especially for groups that are often underserved and underrepresented,鈥� says Boyle. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been very enriching for my own learning and being able to give back to the community that I consider home is very important.鈥�